WHAT: On Friday, December 31, Muslims in Columbus will offer prayers for thosewho died as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Asia. The prayers,called salat al-ghaib (sa-laat-all-guy-ib), or "prayers for those who have diedin a distant place," will be held following the regular Friday Jum'ah prayersat the Islamic Center of Columbus and other area mosques.

WHEN: Friday, December 31. Jum'ah prayers begin at 12:45 -- salat al- ghaib will be around 1:15 pm following the Jum'ah prayer.

(MIAMI, FL., 12/28/2004) The Florida office of the Council on American-IslamicRelations (CAIR-FL) will hold a prayer service today to pray for those killedand affected by Sunday's tsunamis in southern Asia.

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy group also expressescondolences to the families of the victims and appeals to members of theAmerican Muslim community and all people of conscience worldwide to offerhumanitarian assistance.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered inWashington, D.C., and has 29 regional offices and chapters nationwide and inCanada. This event is co-sponsored by all south Florida mosques and will beattended by all the Imams in the south Florida area.

- END -

CONTACT: Altaf Ali, 954-298-8214, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Ahmed Bedier,813-731-9506, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/28/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the Bush administration to repudiate the published views of a presidential appointee who says he is "encouraged" by a recently-released study indicating that 44 percent of Americans would curtail the civil liberties of American Muslims.

Daniel Pipes, who was appointed by President Bush to the board of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in 2003 and is considered by many Muslims to be the nation's leading Islamophobe, wrote that the results of the Cornell University study reflect his own beliefs that "government authorities should direct special attention toward Muslims living in the United States, either by registering their whereabouts, profiling them, monitoring their mosques, or infiltrating their organizations."

(President Bush bypassed strong Senate opposition to Pipes' nomination by using a "recess appointment" to place him on the USIP board. Pipes' term on the USIP board, which was shortened by the need for a recess appointment, recently expired.)

In his syndicated column, Pipes blames "Leftists and Islamist" groups and "radical groups" like the ACLU for "intimidating" the public into rejecting "self-evident defensive measures" targeting American Muslims. He concludes by agreeing that "governments should take into account nationality, ethnicity, and religious affiliation in their homeland security policies."

Mocking the "supposed horrors of internment," Pipes claims the mass round-up of Japanese-Americans during World War II resulted from "legitimate national security concerns." (In the past, when Pipes was questioned about his views on internment, he claimed to not have enough information on the subject to formulate an opinion.)

In his previous writings, Pipes not only refused to condemn the internment of Japanese-Americans, he seemed to suggest that violence against foreign nationals in Iraq could be curbed by attacks on Muslims in the home countries of the victims, suggested that Israel 'raze' Palestinian villages, decried positive portrayals of Islamic history and beliefs in public schools, claimed 10 to 15 percent of all Muslims are "potential killers," compared American Muslim voter registration drives to those of the Communist Party USA, and spoke against the enfranchisement of American Muslims, saying they pose 'true dangers' to our society.

Pipes also launched Campus Watch, a web site that included "dossiers" on professors and academic institutions thought to be too critical of Israel or too sympathetic to Islam and Muslims. He opposed the president's repeated statements that Islam is a religion of peace and claimed to have a special mental "filter" with which he can detect those who want to "create a Muslim state in America."

Ironically, Pipes even attacked the USIP for hosting Muslim speakers that he did not approve of, despite the fact that he himself supports Mujahedeen-e Khalq, a group designated as terrorist by the State Department.

"President Bush should disassociate his administration from such extremist and bigoted views," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "It was wrong to target Japanese-Americans in World War II, and it is wrong today to target American Muslims because of their faith or ethnicity."

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

- END -

CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fishing boats and cars piledup in a fishing village in Malaysia's tourist island of Langkawi. Picture Source: Reuters.

(Washington, D.C., 12/27/04) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today asked members of the American Muslim community and all people of conscience worldwide to offer humanitarian assistance and pray for the victims in Sunday's tsunamis in southern Asia.

The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group also expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragedy in southern Asia," said CAIR Chairman Omar Ahmad. "We extend our sincerest condolences to the families of those killed and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured as a result of the earthquake. CAIR is working on identifying relief organizations that will provide aid to the affected areas."

The underwater tremor - the world's biggest earthquake in 40 years - struck deep in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra, triggering tidal waves up to 30 feet high that obliterated villages and seaside resorts in sixcountries across southern Asia.

An estimated 20,000 people have been reported killed thus far in the devastation. As more information comes in from different countries, officials are expecting the death toll to rise.

HOW TO HELP

The following organizations have announced that they will take part in relief efforts to assist the victims of the earthquake:

ASIA RELIEF, a Maryland based nonprofit organization, is accepting donations of nonperishable food items, clothing and toys for victims of the tsunami in SriLanka. Cash donations are also being accepted. To contribute, drop off donations anytime at 19409 Olive Tree Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20879. Contact Seyed Rizwan Mowlana at 301-672-9355 for more information.

The INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT societies in south Asia have begun to mobilize staff and volunteers to affected areas to assist with theimmediate needs. Emergency assessment and first-aid teams have already reached some of the affected areas.

Call 1-800-435-7669. Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

CARE Australia teams from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand are traveling to affected areas to gauge the impact of the disaster. Donations can bemade through the CARE Australia website (www.careaustralia.org.au) or byphoning 1-800-020-046.

Other relief organizations that have established similar funds should notify CAIR by sending an e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Additional names will be added to a list on CAIR's website, www.cair.com.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 29 regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.

- END -

CONTACT: Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726,E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..